Ex-Souderton coach accused of hazing

Police charged a former Souderton Area School District wrestling coach Thursday with hazing team members by beating them with Wiffle ball bats and abusing them during practices and other functions.

Michael Salone, 33, of 42 Grandview Ave., Telford, turned himself in at the Souderton Police Department on Thursday and was arraigned on charges of endangering the welfare of children, simple assault and harassment.

Salone, a state wrestling champion for Souderton in 1987, was released on $10,000 unsecured bail pending a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. Wednesday before District Justice Kenneth Deatelhauser.

Several student-athletes told police that Salone physically and verbally abused them in 2002 and 2003 while he was a head coach and an assistant wrestling coach, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

One time under Salone's supervision, an assistant wrestling coach allegedly hogtied wrestler David E. Geib, 16, despite his objections.

Salone then used the hogtied boy to perform "curls" and watched as the boy was thrown into a shower, the affidavit states.

"Everything that went on there went on under [Salone's] supervision and was carried out with his blessing," Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Todd Stephens said. "He's the ringmaster of the circus that the wrestling practices became.

"This behavior by a coach toward student-athletes was criminal and won't be tolerated."

The affidavit states Salone also frequently disciplined wrestlers by using pressure points and submission holds on them, which is illegal in high school wrestling.

He also allegedly hit wrestlers with plastic Wiffle ball bats while they performed leg-raise exercises in an effort to strengthen their stomach muscles, and hit them with the bats as they ran laps.

David Geib and his brother Daniel, 18, left Souderton last year to wrestle in the Pennridge School District, according to Souderton Athletic Director Tom Quintois.

Daniel Geib said that while he was at the March 2002 state wrestling championships in Hershey, Salone punched him in the stomach, according to the affidavit.

Neither the Geibs nor their attorney, Charles Mandracchia, could be reached for comment Thursday.

"It sounds like it's a matter of hazing and it's just a matter of [to what] degree," said John A. Williams, executive director of the Center for the Study of Pan-Hellenic Issues, a Cheyney, Delaware County, consulting firm that he said researches hazing and other forms of violence. "I don't think it could ever be justified."

The allegations led to some Souderton wrestlers leaving the district and Salone resigning after district officials asked him to, Quintois said. He said Salone was hired as assistant coach in 2002 and became head coach the following year.

"We asked for Mike to resign and he turned in his resignation in early September or late August," Quintois said.

Quintois referred other questions to the district superintendent's office.

Assistant Superintendent Nick Chubb said the district is trying to forget about the ordeal.

"This thing was under investigation. It's behind us and we're moving on," Chubb said. "This has not been an issue in this district for a number of months."

Stephens said his office started investigating the allegations in the middle of October.

For months Stephens wrangled with which, if any, charges to file against Salone.

"A lot of the witnesses we had are scattered across the country at college," Stephens said. "In reviewing the elements of the crime and reviewing his conduct, these charges fit."

The charges are false, said Salone's attorney, Craig Kellerman of Norristown.

"My client maintains his complete innocence and he's looking forward to his day in court to clear his name," Kellerman said. "He's denied all the allegations."